OREGON

“If these walls could talk,” is never more true than when uttered in reference to hotels. Of course, if they could speak, we probably wouldn’t want to know all the spicy details of a traveler’s stay. But there are some properties whose stories begin long before they ever housed guests. These hotels once housed everyone from bankers to newspaper men and even prisoners, before being transformed into luxury properties across the globe. Here are 10 properties that went from historic spaces to four- and five-star accommodations:

We know summer isn’t officially over just yet, but what’s the harm in looking ahead to some great fall travel destinations? Besides the crisp weather and wardrobe change, a tale-tell sign that autumn has arrived is the colorful conversion of the leaves around us—from vibrant yellow and orange to deep red and brown.... Read More

Whether you visit the Rose City for business or pleasure, The Westin Portland is ready to give you an elegant boutique hotel experience amidst some of the city's best shopping, dining, nightlife and cultural attractions.... Read More

A destination in itself, The Fairmont Olympic is one of Seattle's most classic luxury hotels. Located in a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Fairmont Olympic is bursting with opulence, from the serene indoor pool to two critically acclaimed restaurants.... Read More

Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was Willamette Valley Vineyards. Its prologue begins in 1961, when winemaking visionary Richard Sommer hired an Oregon attorney to do the legal work necessary to establish the first Oregon winery since Prohibition. The attorney’s son was Jim Bernau.... Read More

Traveling has a way of making the mundane memorable. The daily cup of coffee back home, merely a fragrant wake-up to launch the daily drill, becomes a tangible expression of the joy and romance of a place when in, say, Paris. As soon as that plane touches down at Charles de Gaulle, the mission for the first perfect cup of cafe cr?me begins; or in Rome, it’s the search for the first tiny and potent Illy espresso.... Read More

As the spookiest holiday of the year draws near, enjoy a photo tour of real-life sites that were famously featured in classic horror stories, folklore and film. Some look surprisingly sweet, some flaunt their history, and some will chill your bones.

Packing up the car for a road trip is a thrilling ritual that looks entirely ordinary on the outside. Painstakingly thought-out routes, snacks lovingly put together, and the excitement of arriving wherever it is you’re headed all come together at that moment, usually early in the morning. And there’s never a lack of excuses for skipping town for the weekend — a local (or not-so-local) festival does the trick, but so does a great hotel deal or just wanting to get out of dodge.... Read More

Fate, family, and fortune all played vital roles in the creation of Trisaetum (tris-say-tum), a blossoming winery located in the heart of Oregon’s Ribbon Ridge AVA. Founders James and Andrea Frey say it all began when they fell in love on their Napa Valley honeymoon—with winemaking.... Read More

Mark Doty, a contemporary poet, writes of his being drawn into the orbit of a painting. I have a similar sense of being drawn into a positive, memorable orbit from my recent resort experience at Brasada Ranch in Central Oregon.... Read More

Examining 35 million photos on Flickr, Cornell researchers have discovered the most photographed places in the world. Researchers discovered that not only do people all shoot the same destinations; they shoot from many of the same angles. In... Read More

Visitors to Portland, Oregon have decided it’s time to overlook the drizzle and dim that plagues the city nine months out of the year, so they can experience the uniqueness the city has to offer. From lush forests to fantastic eats, Portland is... Read More

If your summer vacation plans are halted by the need to explore college campuses for your graduate, there are ways to get the most out of these trips. College and University tours can be less of a chore, if you choose to visit some of the... Read More

For Donna Morris and Bill Sweat, the owners of Oregon’s Winderlea Vineyard & Winery, it all started with their first date at a little wine shop in the North End of Boston. Fast forward 20-plus years and wine had become a big part of their lives as collectors, consumers, and travelers.... Read More